Iza Calzado and Allen Dizon

Former sexy star turned dramatic actor Allen Dizon has gone naked again in his latest self-produced movie “Dukot (Desaparecidos).” This time he bares skin not in a love scene but in a scene he is most likely not to be forgotten – being tortured!

That particular scene has him nude and sitting on a block of ice which Allen considers the most uncomfortable moment he ever has had in front of a camera. He also describes it to be one of his most grueling torture scenes in “Dukot.”

In “Dukot,” Allen plays an activist by the name of Junix Etrata who along with his girlfriend played by Iza Calzado are abducted by unknown assailants. In the film, he and Iza are tortured in order to keep them from rallying against the government. Helmed by awarded director Joel Lamangan from the script of Palanca Awardee Bonifacio Ilagan, “Dukot” takes a look on what allegedly happens to abducted or disappearing activists in the country.

“This movie is very deep. It is inspired by real events. This movie is very different from my past movies and I can say that this is one film I can be proud of even to my future grandchildren,” said Allen.

Aside from his “icy torture,” Allen in the film is beaten and even burned with lighted cigarettes, reminiscent of reports people read about in newspapers about tortured victims.

“I’m just glad that we now have more freedom to show such movies unlike in the past when our government was so strict. I know the brutality of this film but the story must be told and moviegoers should realize the truth about this problem,” he stressed.

So how did he prepare for his role?

“It was hard because I never experienced being tortured. I don’t know how painful it was. I actually felt how painful it was during our shoot because I told them that it was okay if I accidentally got hit hard when they were beating me up. And moviegoers will surely see how painful it was to be tortured through this movie,” described Allen.

He added that aside from doing his homework of reading the script and memorizing his lines, Allen also did research about activists in the Philippines. He even joined a real rally twice to get the feeling and understand what happens during a rally.

“After joining those rallies, I became curious as to what happens after. Was the rally successful in communicating its goal or will our government act harshly after the rally? It was an exhilarating experience for me because I was never in any rally before,” he smiled.

His hard work and elevated acting skills didn’t go unnoticed as his performance was commended by director Joel Lamangan.

In an interview, the director raved, “Allen Dizon surprised me big time in ‘Dukot (Desaparecidos).’ He turned in a very sensitive and felt performance as a tortured activist. It was a difficult role but he did it well. Without batting an eyelash, I can say he’s one of our better actors to look forward to.”

Allen, on the other hand, was ecstatic about his director’s kind words about his craft. But he admitted that the whole duration of filming “Dukot” was nerve-wrecking for him.

“Working with Joel Lamangan was a nice experience for me. I had fun but I was of course pressured. I was nervous because he requires us to be always alert on what was happening around us. We should be fast in picking up things as well as prepared when we’re on his set. We should all be synchronized because Joel Lamangan is a very systematic director,” shared Allen.

The actor also attributed his powerful performance to the drive and inspiration the whole project brought out from him. Coming from doing sexy roles, playing an activist is one of the roles he’d wanted to do ever since he became an actor. And since he was given the opportunity, his reaction was to give more than 110% of his acting prowess to his role.

“Even if I am the producer, the real pressure is whether I could deliver what the director wants. So everything I learned in years of acting I really dumped it on breathing life to my character,” he quipped.

“Dukot” is produced by CDP Events and Entertainment Productions in cooperation with ATD Entertainment Productions, owned by Allen Dizon. “Dukot” also marks the third indie film the actor has produced. The other two were “Paupahan” and “Marino” where he also received praises for his acting.

“I love to produce movies. I could say that ‘Paupahan’ went well while we took a different approach in marketing ‘Marino.’ I’m really interested in producing interesting stories like ‘Dukot.’ And if more stories like this come my way and with enough capital, I wouldn’t think twice producing it,” explained Allen.

So what is “Dukot’s” message?

“I think it is to stop extrajudicial killings and the violation of human rights… I think it is also about forgiveness. We all have our faults and if God can forgive us then we also can forgive one another,” he replied.

Also in “Dukot” are Snooky Serna, Emilio Garcia, Gina Alajar, Robert Arevalo, Felix Roco, Jim Pebangco, Raquel Villavicencio, Mon Confiado, Rico Barrera, John Apacible, Menggie Cobarrubias, Tony Mabesa, Richard Arellano, Benjie Felipe, and Armaine Pagcu.

“Dukot (Desaparecidos)” will first have its world premiere in Montreal and will then go to international film festivals in Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong in the coming months. It’s slated for a release in the Philippines on Dec. 2, in time for the Human Rights month celebration.